Speed limit review
The speed limit review
In August 2006, the Department for Transport published a
guidance document called Circular Roads 01/2006 "Setting Local
Speed Limits". To achieve the aims of the guidance, the government
required all traffic authorities in England to review the speed
limits on A and B roads by 2011.
The method for carrying out the review was set by initially
reviewing an area, south of Maidstone, with some 76 miles (122km)
of A and B roads, called the demonstration area, which was
completed in 2008 and the speed limit changes resulting from this
implemented at the start of 2010.
The remaining A and B roads were to be reviewed, as part of the
speed limit review project. The recent withdrawal of government
grants has led to the suspension of the speed limit review. Any
further work on the project and implementation is
under consideration by Kent County Council. It
therefore unlikely that speed limit changes will be progressed
on an area wide basis.
However, where crash analysis indicates that a lower limit
is wholly or partly the measure required to reduce crashes on a
section of road, then this can be treated as a crash remedial
measure (CRM) and prioritised and funding bid for
accordingly.
Circular Roads 01/2006 "Setting Local Speed Limits".
The principle intention of this document is to
bring about a more consistent approach to the application of speed
limits, as clearly indicated by the opening statement of the
Circular.
"Speed limits should be evidence-led,
self-explaining and seek to reinforce people's assessment of what
is a safe speed to travel. Speed limits should encourage
self-compliance and not be seen by drivers as being a target speed
at which to drive in all circumstances..."
The guidance also seeks to address the balance
between the need to travel with the need to improve quality of
life.
Setting speed limits using this circular
will:
- assist the motorist in assessing a safe speed
at which to travel
- consider the effects on people who live
adjacent to a trafficked road.
However, these effects must be balanced
against the need to keep traffic moving throughout Kent to enable
business and other day to day activities to function.
Some of the issues considered in the speed limit review
project
The speed of traffic is of local concern, but
the introduction of some lower speed limits produced the
inconsistency the government guidance looks to avoid. In some
cases, resulted in the introduction of limits where the overall
speed of traffic was not changed, and which did not always have the
support of Kent Police.
Recommended speed limit changes as part of the
review were considered as a whole, rather than on an individual
change, to achieve consistent self-enforcing routes. Speed limits
should not be seen as a target. We should all drive within the
constraints and limitations of the road and accept that the
majority of drivers using these roads are the people who live
there.
More information on speed management and speed
limits is available on the Department
for Transport website.